Enjoy the nutritional and financial benefits of the CACFP

Every day, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nourishing food to more than 4 million kids and nearly 140 thousand adults. The Food Program is supported by the USDA and provides reimbursement for meals and snacks to eligible organizations that serve eligible children and adults.

There are two ways to participate in the CACFP:

Who is eligible?

Here are some of the eligible programs that can participate in the CACFP.

Eligibility:

Eligible public or private nonprofit or any for-profit child care centers, Head Start programs, and other institutions that are licensed or approved to provide nonresidential day care services.

For-profit centers: 25% of the children enrolled must receive Title XX funds (childcare subsidy) or must meet the income eligibility criteria for free or reduced-price meals.

Participants:

Children 12 years of age and under; children of migrant workers through age 15; mentally/physically disabled persons at any age if the majority of enrollees are age 18 or under.

Meals:

Reimbursement for up to 2 meals and 1 snack, or 1 meal and 2 snacks – per child, per day.

Reimbursement:

Based on the income level of the children in care (free, reduced-price or paid rates).

Join the CACFP by either

Eligibility:

It is a child care program for children, operated in a private home, and licensed to provide care.

Operators must work with a CACFP sponsor who accepts all administrative and financial responsibility for operating the program in the homes they sponsor.

Participants:

Children 12 years of age and under; children of migrant workers through age 15; mentally/physically disabled persons at any age if the majority of enrollees are age 18 or under.

Meals:

Reimbursement for up to 2 meals and 1 snack, or 1 meal and 2 snacks – per child, per day.

Reimbursement:

Based on the income level of the local geographic area, the childcare provider, or the children in care.

Join the CACFP

By signing an agreement with a sponsoring organization.

Eligibility:

Public or private nonprofit adult day care centers.

For-profit centers may be eligible for CACFP if at least 25% of their participants receive benefits under title XIX (Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs) or title XX (Block Grants and Programs for Social Services and Elder Justice).

Individuals who reside in institutions are not eligible.

Participants:

Adults 60 or older, or adults who are physically or mentally impaired to the extent that limits their independence and ability to carry out activities of daily living.

Meals:

Reimbursement for up to 2 meals and 1 snack, or 1 meal and 2 snacks – per adult, per day.

Reimbursement:

Based on the income status of each participant.

Join the CACFP by either

Eligibility:

▫️ Program must be in a school zone where 50% of the enrolled students qualify for free or reduced-priced meals

▫️ Offer educational or enrichment activities after the regular school day ends or on weekends and holidays, during times of the year when school is in session.

▫️ Meet licensing, health or safety codes required by state or local law.

Participants:

Children 18 years of age and under at the beginning of the current school year, or mentally/physically disabled persons of any age.

Meals:

Reimbursement for up to 1 meal and 1 snack – per child, per day.

ARAS centers can serve one meal per day on weekends or during vacations with State Agency approval.
ARAS centers can also serve 2 snacks instead of 1 meal and 1 snack with State Agency approval.

Reimbursement:

Reimbursement is at the free rate.

Join the CACFP by either

Eligibility:

A public or private nonprofit center that provides temporary shelter and food services to homeless children.

Participants:

Children ages 18 and under.

Meals:

Reimbursement for up to 3 meals or 2 meals and 1 snack – per child per day.

Reimbursement:

Reimbursement is at the free rate.

Join the CACFP by either

Information by the CACFP.

How can I join the Food Program?

You can join the Food Program by finding a sponsor or becoming one.

CACFP Participants are centers (known as sites) and homes (known as providers) that supply meals and care and participate in the CACFP through a permanent agreement with a sponsor.

CACFP participant responsibilities:

Serve meals and snacks that meet the program guidelines.

Maintain required records that include:

Daily attendance
Menus
Meal count records
Child enrollment forms

Submit records for reimbursement to the sponsor by the due date specified by the sponsor.

Notify sponsor of changes in enrollment, meal service, licensing or approval status

Allow sponsor representatives, as well as state and USDA representatives, to conduct reviews during regular business hours.

Attend training annually.

Allow monitoring visits.

I am ready to use KidKare for free with a CACFP Sponsor

A CACFP Sponsor is an organization that works directly with the state and provides administrative, financial, nutritional, and educational support to CACFP participants.

CACFP sponsor responsibilities:

Train your staff in all aspects of CACFP before participation.

Maintain all records related to the operation of your Food Program.

Ensure compliance with meal pattern requirements.

Monitor your participants to ensure compliance with regulations.

Process reimbursements from the state and distribute to your participants.

Provide technical assistance to CACFP participants as needed.

Ensure all children/participants are properly enrolled.

I am ready to become a CACFP Sponsor

Why participate in the CACFP?

The goal of the CACFP is to improve and maintain the health and nutrition of children and adults, promote the development of good eating habits, and integrate nutritious food service with organized child and adult care.

Nutritional
Benefits

Nutrition Education

CACFP participants receive nutrition education for children and elderly/disabled adults.

Healthy Meals

Children in the Food Program receive meals nutritionally superior to those served in comparable childcare settings without CACFP.

Support Families

CACFP helps reduce food insecurity and protect families against hunger.

Financial
Benefits

Receive Money

You will report the number of monthly meals and snacks you serve as a Food Program participant. Then you will get reimbursed for serving healthy meals.

Gain More Income

As a CACFP participant, you will earn more money, pay more in taxes, and have more money left after paying taxes. More income is always better.

Grow Your Business

You can market your participation in the CACFP as one aspect of attracting new families looking for childcare with nutrition meal options.

Cash In Your Pocket

For every $1,000 you receive from the CACFP, you can expect to keep about $600-$700 in your pocket after taxes.

Tax Deductions

You can deduct the meals/snack you get reimbursed by the CACFP. If you serve breakfast, lunch, and snack each day, you can deduct about $1,500 in food expenses for each child in a year.

Economic
Value Benefits

Fund Local Stores

CACFP funding supports the local economy by purchasing required healthy food at grocery stores and farmer's markets.

Support Food Programs

CACFP funding is a significant resource for supporting childcare business, afterschool programs, homeless shelters and adult care centers.

Help Families

CACFP plays a vital role in improving the quality of childcare and making it more affordable for many low-income families.

It's no secret that the CACFP is paperwork-heavy, but it doesn't have to be with KidKare.

Our KidKare software solutions are designed to simplify claims processing and maximize reimbursements.

CACFP participants and sponsors will be able to catch errors that they could easily miss if they process claims by hand. Our software runs over 200 edit checks for missing information or compliance problems and sees any errors before you submit your claim.

KidKare is trusted by 75,000 + sponsors, owners, directors, sites, and providers.

Capterra

4.7 Start Rating with 522 Reviews

$ 0

Sponsor saved in one year using KidKare

+ 0

Children served on KidKare in 2022

+ 0

Healthy meals served on KidKare in 2022

For example: Licensed Child Care Homes, Licensed Adult Care Centers, At-Risk After-School Program, Summer Food Service Program, Out-of-School Time Program, Emergency Shelters, Head Start Program.

Solutions:

Enroll Kids
Electronically

Enroll children and capture state-specific income eligibility electronically from parents. No more paper, no more cost of storage, no more missing documents.

Track Attendance
& Meals

Take separate attendance and meal counts using any device. Fast, easy, reliable – no training required.

Food
List

Create menus from a sponsor-controlled food list. Gone are the days of non-creditable food items on menus!

Submit Claims
Electronically

Eliminate late submission - and encourage better record keeping habits from the start.

Find a Sponsor Today

Find a sponsor now and start using our KidKare software for free. To use our software for free, you must join a sponsor already using our KidKare software.

Click your state on the map to learn more about KidKare sponsors in your area. Your sponsor will help you get reimbursed for serving healthy meals.

We are working on updating our KidKare sponsor list.

We have sponsor solutions for multi-sites and single sites (CACFP independent centers).

Solutions:

National & State
Policies

Our software is always up-to-date with ever-changing national and state policies.

We follow all USDA and all state regulations for CACFP.

Electronic Claims
Processing

Run over 200 edit checks for missing information or compliance problems and see any errors before you submit your claim. Finding and fixing errors may result in a higher reimbursement!

Real-Time
Data

Real-time data is at your fingertips 24-7, so you always know where your Food Program operation stands.

Extensive
Reports

You have everything you need to ensure compliance and prepare for audits, thanks to 75 reports and customizable export files.

Our Sponsor solutions for:

👉🏿 Sponsors with multi-sites/providers

👉🏼 Sponsors with a single site (Independent Centers)

Become a Sponsor Today

Click on your state in the map below to learn more about the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) in your state.

This is an interactive map! Click on your state in the map below and learn more about the CACFP in your state.

CACFP Testimonials

"The CACFP has helped me my program, because I gained new knowledge trought training about how to serve nutritious food and fight childhood obesity. It has also helped families to understand how they could feed their children at home".

Isabel Mauriz Family Childcare Home Provider

"We have been in this business 20 years and never did the food program. So what has surprised us is that I was thinking it was this big scary monster, and it really isn't. If you are doing what you are supposed to do according to rules and regulations, claiming your kids, buying what you are supposed to buy, and serving what you are supposed to serve, it's not an issue at all."

Rose Smith Trinity Owner & Executive Director

"The food program has helped my center be able to make better food purchases and to eliminate highly processed food. The food program schedule keeps us consistent, and there is less fuss at meal times because the kids know when to expect it".

La Nita Gant Owner

"Having CACFP meals offered in our five after-school programs has provided a means of nutrition to many of our food-insecure students. Our after-school program students thoroughly enjoy sitting down around the table and enjoying their meals together".

Kristen McFarland Program Director

CACFP FAQs

The goal of the CACFP is to improve and maintain the health and nutrition of children and adults, promote development of good eating habits, and integrate nutritious food service with organized child and adult day care.

What is the Food Program?

Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is federally funded by the USDA. The program reimburses qualifying organizations for serving nutritious meals and snacks to eligible children and adults.

Would I get reimbursed for serving nutritious meals and snacks?

Yes! By participating in the CACFP, you’ll receive reimbursement for meals you are probably already serving to eligible children and elderly or disabled adults.

How does the meal reimbursement work?

Reimbursement for CACFP participants is dependent upon a variety of factors, such as what type of facility is administering the CACFP, the income level of participants and the income level of the area.

The USDA establishes reimbursement rates annually for each meal and snacks that are served.

There are two levels of reimbursement. Tier 1 and Tier 2. CACFP pays a higher level (Tier 1) of reimbursement to low income areas, and to daycare participants and children most in need. At a minimum, a participant will receive Tier 2 rates.

How many meals and snacks am I allowed to claim?

Child Care Center/Home or adult day care center: May claim up to 2 meals and 1 snack OR 2 snacks and 1 meal per participant, per day.

ARAS: May claim up to 1 meal and 1 snack per child, per day.

Emergency Shelters: May claim up to 3 meals OR 2 meals and 1 snack per child, per day.

Learn more >

What kind of food do I need to serve in the CACFP?

There are five meal components: Grain, Vegetable, Fruit, Meat/Meat Alternate and Fluid Milk. In order to be reimbursed, the meal or snack must contain the required components in their minimum amounts by age. Crediting Handbook for the CACFP.

Who can participate in the CACFP?

Public or private non-profit organizations or eligible for-profit organizations:

Licensed Child Care Centers

Licensed Child Care Home

Licensed Adult Care Centers

At-Risk After-School Program

Summer Food Service Program

Out-of-School Time Program

Emergency Shelters

Head Start Program

Who gets CACFP meals and snacks?

Eligible children include:

Infants and children through age 12 in child care centers and day care homes.
Children of migrant workers are eligible through age 15.
In afterschool care centers and emergency shelters, children through age 18 are eligible.

Eligible adults include:

Those enrolled in adult day care and are at least 60 years of age or physically or mentally impaired.

How do I join the CACFP?

There are two ways to participate in the CACFP:

Becoming a CACFP Sponsor

A CACFP Sponsor is an organization that provides administrative, financial, educational, and nutritional tools and support to help CACFP participants claim reimbursement for the meals and snacks that they serve through the CACFP. Contact State Agency.

Finding a CACFP Sponsor

Contact a CACFP Sponsor in your state. They will answer your questions and enroll you. Contact CACFP Sponsor.

How can KidKare help me?

Our different KidKare software solutions are designed to simplify claims processing and maximize reimbursements.

CACFP participants and sponsors will be able to catch errors that they could easily miss if they process claims by hand, freeing up their time to focus on more important things.

Learn more >

Enjoy the nutritional and financial benefits of the CACFP

Every day, the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nourishing food to more than 4 million kids and nearly 140 thousand adults. The Food Program is supported by the USDA and provides reimbursement for meals and snacks to eligible organizations that serve eligible children and adults.

There are two ways to participate in the CACFP:

Who is eligible?

Child Care Center

Child Care Home

Adult Care Center

ARAS/SFSP

Emergency Shelter

How can I join the Food Program?

Find a Sponsor

Become a Sponsor

Why participate in the CACFP?

Nutritional Benefits

Financial Benefits

Economic Value Benefits

It's no secret that the CACFP is paperwork-heavy, but it doesn't have to be with KidKare.

Find a sponsor now and start using our KidKare software for free. To use our software for free, you must join a sponsor already using our KidKare software.

Click your state on the map to learn more about KidKare sponsors in your area. Your sponsor will help you get reimbursed for serving healthy meals.

CACFP Testimonials

Our Products

Resources

Follow Us

Get Help

Expenses

Adding Vendors

Quick Entry Receipt

Itemized Receipts

Record Attendance & Meal Counts

Daily Menu

Menu Production Records

Menu Templates

Grain Ounce Equivalents

Menu Calendar

Creating Infant Menus

Mark Infants as Fed

Record Attendance & Meal Counts

Meals & Attendance

Mark Infants as Fed

Detailed Meals & Attendance

Estimating Attendance

Enroll & Manage Children

Enroll a New Participant

Edit Child Information

Set Up Accounts

Site Details and Settings for Sponsored Centers

Creating Roles and Permissions

Creating Center Staff Logins

Staff Login

Reports

Infant Feeding Report

Milk Audit Report

Claim Manual Report

Claims

Claims Feature

Calculate Claims Button

Claims Errors

EOM Best Practices

Milk

Substitute Milk and Child Milk Allergies

Milk Audit

Purchase & Write Offs

Plan & Record Menus​

Daily Menu

Menu Production Records

Menu Templates

Menu Calendar

Grain Ounce Equivalents

Creating Infant Menus

Milk

Substitute Milk & Child Milk Allergies

Milk Audit

Purchases and Write Offs

Milk Audit Reports

Record Attendance & Meal Counts

Basics Meal & Attendance

Detailed Meal & Attendance

Estimating Attendance

Enroll & Manage Children​

Enroll Participant

Nutritional
Benefits

Financial
Benefits

Economic
Value Benefits

Plan & Record Menus

Enroll & Manage Children

KidKare Accounting is an all-in-one solution designed specifically for childcare providers, whether they participate in CACFP or not.

Start your free trial today by filling out the form below.

Observer & Monitoring